There’s a cool new way to get to the Colorado State Fair this year.
Aug. 25 marks the inaugural run of the Colorado State Fair Express from Denver to Pueblo, the first public passenger train on the route since 1997.
Pulling the 11-car special of 1950s Union Pacific passenger cars will be the railroad’s steam locomotive No. 3985, the largest still operating. The circa 1943 American Locomotive Co. Challenger engine last operated in regular service in 1957. It is the only operating engine of its class in the world today.
The engine has a top speed of about 70 miles per hour. However, the 115-mile trip aboard the State Fair Express will take about four hours each way, which leaves plenty of time to dance to country music and sample Colorado foods and beverages (think brew from Flying Dog and hooch from Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey) before you reach the Pueblo platform.
The train departs Denver Union Station at 8 a.m. and arrives in Pueblo at 12:15 p.m. The return trip leaves Pueblo at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to reach Denver by 10:15 p.m. Get there at 7:30 a.m. to see the champagne inauguration of the new ride.
Train tickets include lunch at the Colorado State Fairgrounds, unlimited carnival rides and walking tours of Pueblo’s historic district and the city’s restored railroad depot.
Tickets, priced from $285 to $475, and other information are available online at coloradostatefairexpress.com or 303-675-0235.
